There is a well-known passage in the bible that I have often heard quoted. "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven", Ecclesiastes 3:1. As I contemplate that verse, my thoughts immediately offer me insight into the value of "patience". I hate to admit that I, along with countless others, do not possess an abundance of patience. Today we live in a fast-paced environment known for supplying instant gratification in so many arenas. Technology has increased so rapidly in this generation with regard to communication around the globe, that we rarely have to wait for anything. We have instant access through a variety of mediums to each other, as well as an explosion of knowledge and entertainment unheard of in past centuries. Our transportation needs have been met with unprecedented options for increased speed, satisfying the hunger of our hurry-up society. Do you ever feel that you are always racing to get somewhere, but never arriving? Do you ever feel like a hamster on a ferris wheel, going around in circles? I do!
How do we counterbalance a world of instant communication, knowledge, entertainment, travel, and even food with the concept of patience? Can we cultivate this important quality in our individual and collective conscience? I think we can, if we follow the principles, teachings and example of our heavenly Father. Did I say example? Yes, I did. If we look in the pages of our bible, we will find that He is the epitome of patience. How do you think He put up with mankind for six thousand years?
Our Father has a purpose for His creation and a definite timeline for it's fulfillment. He is in no hurry. Man's thoughts, plans and actions in no way influence our Creator's intention. The apostle Peter answered the hurry-up crowd in his day, who questioned the promised return of our Lord to usher in the kingdom. These scoffers were antsy, claiming that he wasn't moving fast enough for them. Peter's response in II Pet 3:9 explained, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance".
We often see, in the apostles' letters to the various fellowships of their day, references made to the times and seasons God has purposed for the future fulfillment of his plan. Paul wrote in Eph 1:10 of the dispensation of the fullness of times, when Christ will gather all things unto himself. In verses 13-14 he reminded the Ephesians that they were sealed with the Holy Spirit as a downpayment of their future inheritance "until the redemption of the purchased possession". They were instructed in Eph 4:30 not to grieve this Holy Spirit, whereby they were sealed until the day of redemption. In Phil 1:6, Paul told the believers in Philippi that the good work God had performed in them would continue until the day of Jesus Christ. In Col 3:4, he wrote "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory". He reminded the Thessalonians in II Thes 1:10 of the day when Christ shall come in His glory, and in 2:1 he again spoke of the coming of our Lord Jesus and our gathering together unto him. Peter also spoke in I Pet 4:13 and 5:4 of the day when Christ's glory would be revealed. God is patient in His dealings with mankind and in revealing His purpose for our future. He has set aside a time and a season for the establishment of His kingdom upon this earth.
While we await our Savior's return, the bible reveals that we will undergo many trials and tribulations, but we are instructed to dwell upon this earth with patience. Why must we be subjected to these trials and tribulations? Paul tells us in Rom 5:3-4 that we should glory in tribulations, knowing that they work patience. Patience then brings forth experience, and experience brings forth hope. Rom 12:12 says, "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer". Rom 15:4 tells us, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope". James 1:3-4 says, "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing". Jas 5:7-8 instrust us, "Be patient therefore brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh". Verses 10-11 continues, "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy".
Patience, or longsuffering, is one of the fruits of the Spirit, according to Gal 5:22. It is a necessary ingredient in our lives as a response to the trials of life. I Peter, chapter 1, speaks a great deal about the trying of our faith. Peter told his readers that they were being kept by the power of God unto the revelation of their salvation in the last time. Then he continued, "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ".
It is guaranteed that we will suffer many trials and temptations in this life, but it is God's purpose to use these trials to test our endurance under pressure; to prove our faith; to test our staying power. Heb 10:36 tells us, "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise". Heb 12:1b-2 goes on to say, "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God". Even Christ suffered in the flesh as our example. I Peter 4:12-13 speaks regarding the things we suffer, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy".
Have you heard the saying that the only thing constant is change? Change happens all the time. There is nothing in this world that is not constantly undergoing change. It can be difficult and stressful to adapt to the changing times and seasons of our lives, and sometimes fearful as well. This is where faith and patience are needed to strengthen us. Patience is born of faith. The bible definition of faith, according to Heb 11:1, is "The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". That takes patience! When we are assured of the love of God and that he cares for us, no matter what life throws at us, we can find it in ourselves to wait patiently for the manifestation of His grace and mercy. It will come in it's season. Isa 40:31 says, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint". Whatever you may be enduring at present, know that it is but for a season. Phil 4:6-7 encourages, "Be careful (worried) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus".
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Thursday, December 31, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
A Matter of Life and Death
What exactly awaits mankind following the end of his physical life upon this earth? There is no subject wrapped in more mystery, no teaching more misunderstood in all of the bible, yet the bible itself could be no clearer regarding the answer. From Genesis to Revelation, we see the plan of God unfolding; a plan that takes mankind from his temporary, physical existence upon this earth to eternal life as spiritual beings in the kingdom of God.
However, there remains this mystery surrounding life after death. What does the source of all knowledge, the bible, teach us? We need to begin with death itself. What exactly is death? What actually happens when we cease to live? When we take our final breath of life upon this earth, where do we go, if anywhere?
We are told in Deut. 31:16a, “And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers”. The same thing is said concerning King David in II Sam. 7:12. Acts 2:29 records Peter's words concerning David, "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day". Job spoke of sleeping in the dust, Job 7:21 and Job 14:12. David spoke of the sleep of death in Psa. 13:3. In Dan 12:2 we read, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” There are numerous biblical passages that refer to death as sleep.
We also see that death is spoken of as “rest” in the Bible. In Dan 12:13, the angel of the Lord told Daniel, “But go thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” When Job was bemoaning the terrible state he found himself in he felt it would have been better had he not been born. He stated in Job 3:13, “For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest.” David wrote in Psa 16:9, “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.”
Is there any knowledge or activity in the grave for those who have fallen asleep? God told Adam in Gen 3:19b, “for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Eccl. 3:20 explained, “All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” And in Eccl. 9:10 we are told, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, wither thou goest.” Eccl 9:5 confirmed, “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” Although Solomon was speaking strictly of man’s physical existence in Ecclesiastes, and not life after death, his words give us great insight into the subject of death. We can see from all of these examples that our physical bodies will die and return to the dust of the earth in sleep. There is no knowledge in the grave, no activity.
Job asked the question that we all ask in Job 14: 14-15. “If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.”
I Cor 15 is often referred to as the resurrection chapter in the Bible and provides us with an excellent understanding of the subject of life after death, including how and when it occurs. First, we need to understand that God alone possesses immortality, I Tim 6:16. Man, on the other hand, is mortal and subject to death. As such, he cannot inherit the kingdom of God, I Cor 15:50. He must be resurrected from the dead. In verse 53 Paul explained that the corruptible body must put on incorruption and the mortal must put on immortality. Our bodies must undergo a change in form. The bible teaches that all who have ever died are asleep in their graves awaiting a resurrection from the dead. Paul taught the Christians of his day in I Cor 15:51-52, “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (in death), but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” In I Thes. 4:13-17, he told the church not to be ignorant concerning those who had previously died, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Christ was the first to be resurrected from the dead as an immortal, spirit being. Although there are several instances in the Bible of people being brought back to life, these were awakened out of sleep and continued their physical lives for a time. Paul stated in I Cor 15:3-4, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” Continue with I Cor 15:20, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” I Cor 15:23-24 gives us the timing of our future resurrection, “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.”
There are two resurrections for mankind spoken of in the Bible. As we have seen already, Christ is the firstfruits, or the first to be resurrected from mortal to immortal. At his coming the dead in Christ, along with the living who belong to him, will rise to meet him in the clouds. Rev 20:6 reads, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Verse 5 says, “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” These will all rise in the great white throne judgment according to Rev 20:11-12. John tells us in verse 12, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened (God’s Torah or law): and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
Christ came to earth the first time to die for our sins and become our Savior. When he returns the second time, it will be as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to set up the government of God upon this earth. At that time, he will resurrect all who have accepted his call during their lifetime; both those who died prior to his coming and those who are still alive. They will then be changed to spiritual beings and rule with him for one thousand years, teaching God's laws to the mortals who are alive at the end of the age. To the believers of his day, the apostle John wrote in I John 3:2,"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is". Again, the rest of the dead remain asleep until the thousand years are complete. They will then rise together to stand before Christ and receive judgment according to their deeds. Matt 12:36 quotes Jesus as saying, "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment". These masses will then be taught by the resurrected saints and granted an opportunity to accept Christ as their Lord and savior. Christ spoke of that day when chastising the Pharisees for their unbelief. He said in Matt 11:21-24 that it would be more tolerable for the cities of Sodom, Tyre and Sidon in the judgment then for them. He explained that, if those wicked cities had witnessed his mighty works in their day, they would have long ago repented in sackcloth and ashes. In Matt 12:41-42 he told them, "The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here".
Mankind's eternal fate is not sealed at the time of his death. All are not being called during their physical lifetime. John 6:44 recorded the words of Jesus, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day". In John 15:16 he reminded his disciples that they had not chosen him but he had chosen them and ordained that they bring forth much fruit. There are parallels in our democratic societies today. When a president is elected to office, his first order of business is to select his cabinet to rule with him. These individuals rule by the laws, statutes and judgments of the government that have been established for that nation. The citizens of the nation are expected to abide by those laws, and are judged according to those laws. Likewise, Christ is coming again to set up the government of God upon this earth. He has already proven himself worthy to become it's King and, throughout man's history, he has been selecting his cabinet. As we have seen, these are the saints that will rule with him when he returns to establish God's kingdom. The citizens of his kingdom are the remainder of mankind who were not called during their lifetime. These will be raised up at the last day and taught by the righteous saints who paved the way before them. Upon their acceptance of Christ as their eternal king, they will be granted access to the tree of life, whereby they too will be changed from mortal to immortal to partake of eternal life.
However, there remains this mystery surrounding life after death. What does the source of all knowledge, the bible, teach us? We need to begin with death itself. What exactly is death? What actually happens when we cease to live? When we take our final breath of life upon this earth, where do we go, if anywhere?
We are told in Deut. 31:16a, “And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers”. The same thing is said concerning King David in II Sam. 7:12. Acts 2:29 records Peter's words concerning David, "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day". Job spoke of sleeping in the dust, Job 7:21 and Job 14:12. David spoke of the sleep of death in Psa. 13:3. In Dan 12:2 we read, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” There are numerous biblical passages that refer to death as sleep.
We also see that death is spoken of as “rest” in the Bible. In Dan 12:13, the angel of the Lord told Daniel, “But go thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” When Job was bemoaning the terrible state he found himself in he felt it would have been better had he not been born. He stated in Job 3:13, “For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest.” David wrote in Psa 16:9, “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.”
Is there any knowledge or activity in the grave for those who have fallen asleep? God told Adam in Gen 3:19b, “for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Eccl. 3:20 explained, “All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” And in Eccl. 9:10 we are told, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, wither thou goest.” Eccl 9:5 confirmed, “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” Although Solomon was speaking strictly of man’s physical existence in Ecclesiastes, and not life after death, his words give us great insight into the subject of death. We can see from all of these examples that our physical bodies will die and return to the dust of the earth in sleep. There is no knowledge in the grave, no activity.
Job asked the question that we all ask in Job 14: 14-15. “If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.”
I Cor 15 is often referred to as the resurrection chapter in the Bible and provides us with an excellent understanding of the subject of life after death, including how and when it occurs. First, we need to understand that God alone possesses immortality, I Tim 6:16. Man, on the other hand, is mortal and subject to death. As such, he cannot inherit the kingdom of God, I Cor 15:50. He must be resurrected from the dead. In verse 53 Paul explained that the corruptible body must put on incorruption and the mortal must put on immortality. Our bodies must undergo a change in form. The bible teaches that all who have ever died are asleep in their graves awaiting a resurrection from the dead. Paul taught the Christians of his day in I Cor 15:51-52, “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (in death), but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” In I Thes. 4:13-17, he told the church not to be ignorant concerning those who had previously died, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Christ was the first to be resurrected from the dead as an immortal, spirit being. Although there are several instances in the Bible of people being brought back to life, these were awakened out of sleep and continued their physical lives for a time. Paul stated in I Cor 15:3-4, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” Continue with I Cor 15:20, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” I Cor 15:23-24 gives us the timing of our future resurrection, “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.”
There are two resurrections for mankind spoken of in the Bible. As we have seen already, Christ is the firstfruits, or the first to be resurrected from mortal to immortal. At his coming the dead in Christ, along with the living who belong to him, will rise to meet him in the clouds. Rev 20:6 reads, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Verse 5 says, “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” These will all rise in the great white throne judgment according to Rev 20:11-12. John tells us in verse 12, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened (God’s Torah or law): and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
Christ came to earth the first time to die for our sins and become our Savior. When he returns the second time, it will be as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to set up the government of God upon this earth. At that time, he will resurrect all who have accepted his call during their lifetime; both those who died prior to his coming and those who are still alive. They will then be changed to spiritual beings and rule with him for one thousand years, teaching God's laws to the mortals who are alive at the end of the age. To the believers of his day, the apostle John wrote in I John 3:2,"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is". Again, the rest of the dead remain asleep until the thousand years are complete. They will then rise together to stand before Christ and receive judgment according to their deeds. Matt 12:36 quotes Jesus as saying, "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment". These masses will then be taught by the resurrected saints and granted an opportunity to accept Christ as their Lord and savior. Christ spoke of that day when chastising the Pharisees for their unbelief. He said in Matt 11:21-24 that it would be more tolerable for the cities of Sodom, Tyre and Sidon in the judgment then for them. He explained that, if those wicked cities had witnessed his mighty works in their day, they would have long ago repented in sackcloth and ashes. In Matt 12:41-42 he told them, "The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here".
Mankind's eternal fate is not sealed at the time of his death. All are not being called during their physical lifetime. John 6:44 recorded the words of Jesus, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day". In John 15:16 he reminded his disciples that they had not chosen him but he had chosen them and ordained that they bring forth much fruit. There are parallels in our democratic societies today. When a president is elected to office, his first order of business is to select his cabinet to rule with him. These individuals rule by the laws, statutes and judgments of the government that have been established for that nation. The citizens of the nation are expected to abide by those laws, and are judged according to those laws. Likewise, Christ is coming again to set up the government of God upon this earth. He has already proven himself worthy to become it's King and, throughout man's history, he has been selecting his cabinet. As we have seen, these are the saints that will rule with him when he returns to establish God's kingdom. The citizens of his kingdom are the remainder of mankind who were not called during their lifetime. These will be raised up at the last day and taught by the righteous saints who paved the way before them. Upon their acceptance of Christ as their eternal king, they will be granted access to the tree of life, whereby they too will be changed from mortal to immortal to partake of eternal life.
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